LG inaugrates Asita East project on Yamuna

To restore the ecological character of the flood plains of River Yamuna and give breathable public green space to the people of East Delhi, Lt Governor VK Saxena inaugurated the Asita East project near Laxmi Nagar. The project is a part of the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) ongoing Restoration and Rejuvenation program for the Yamuna floodplains.

Vijender Gupta, MLA Rohini and Authority member, O P Sharma, MLA Vishwas Nagar and Authority member,  Abhay Verma, MLA Laxmi Nagar,  Chief Secretary and VC, DDA apart from other senior officers were present on the occasion.

Asita East project is spread over 197 hectares of land, out of which 90 hectares are with DDA and the remaining falls under the jurisdiction of UP Irrigation Department. Vikas Marg forms the southern edge, Pushta Road, the eastern edge and River Yamuna flows towards its west. The 90 hectares of land under DDA, located adjacent to Vikas Marg, was inaugurated and opened to the people.

As part of the Asita East Project, about 100-150 metres of the area along the major roads have been developed as ‘Greenway’, which is proposed to be a public recreation zone comprising walkways, water bodies and open spaces for congregation along with public amenities.

Further, nearly 300 metres of the area along the edge of the River Yamuna has been developed as an ‘Ecological Zone’ with kachha trails at regular intervals for people to walk up to the river. This aims at reviving the ancient and generic connection of the Yamuna River with the people of the city.

Home to a range of resident birds such as the Spotbilled Duck, Indian Moorhen, Purple Swamphen and migratory birds like Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher, Asita East once developed fully will prove to be a bird lovers’ delight.

Plantation conducive to the Yamuna flood plains has been chosen and about 4000 trees and 33.5 lakh riverine grasses have been planted so far. An existing depression measuring approximately 2 hectares has been restored into a waterbody for the catchment of flood waters. This waterbody can store approximately 50,000-60,000 CuM of water during the monsoons.

Speaking on the occasion, Saxena underlined the importance of Delhi reclaiming its green spaces and appeal to the residents of the city to come forward and play the role of a proactive stakeholder in making the city’s air, water and environment pollution free. He mentioned the recent initiatives taken by the DDA in the shape of various bio-diversity parks, a nursery at Khoja Wala Bagh, Baansera on Yamuna Bank and rejuvenation of the Anang Tal Baoli among others. The LG hoped that the capital will soon have sufficient eco-friendly and environmentally rejuvenating public green spaces for recreation and other public activities.